DStv’s subscriber base grew by 1.4 percent to 1.196 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, compared to Q1, despite recent increases in subscription charges.

According to data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), pay customers stood at 1.179 million in the first quarter ending March 31, 2024.

The recent price hikes have not deterred users, even amid high inflation and economic challenges.

In March 2024, MultiChoice raised the cost of DStv’s Lite package by Sh50 to Sh700 per month, increased Compact package costs by Sh150 to Sh2,000, and raised Premium bouquet prices by Sh600 to Sh10,500.

Similarly, GOtv packages saw notable price increases. The cost of Lite, Value, Max, Supa, and Supa Plus packages rose by Sh220, Sh669, Sh1,499, Sh1,999, and Sh3,700, respectively.

GOtv, also owned by MultiChoice, recorded a 0.5 percent increase in its user base, from 2.779 million to 2.794 million during the same period.

DStv and GOtv remain popular among sports enthusiasts, particularly for English Premier League and Spanish La Liga coverage.

CA data shows that GOtv surpassed StarTimes in customer numbers during the first half of the year, with StarTimes reaching 1.693 million active users in June, up from 1.686 million in March 2024.

Other pay-TV services, such as Azam, also experienced growth, with a 3.3 percent rise in subscribers. Azam’s customer base rose from 78,982 in March to 81,773 in June 2024.

In early October, MultiChoice announced plans to further increase DStv package prices by Sh500 in November. Premium subscribers will see their costs rise from Sh10,500 to Sh11,000.

The company did not provide specific reasons for the price adjustments, which are expected to affect customers across various households.